13 minutes ago, Pates said:

Gawn and Viney are legends and club captains, but they are also past an age of certainty. Gawn I'm less annoyed about, but to me it felt like Viney was holding us over a barrel when we were vulnerable (with the Oliver/Trac issues). We need to stop being sentimental about players and caving to their demands. We have Viney contracted for another 2 years after this season, he's been average with some good performances in there. He's also symptomatic of our issues with ball use. I'm hopeful that a new voice will help extract a new role for him so we can get better balance, but we need to have more of an edge of "you either come with us how we want to do this next phase, or we can trade you to another club that will suit your needs".

They are all warriors, and legends of the club. But did we really need to extend them as far as we did? I don't think so.

I would've been/would be sad to see Jack go, but we need a new mix in the midfield.

I reckon I can name on one hand the players we absolutely can't be without next season, everyone else is a question mark.

EDIT:
Just to add I feel like we are in the position we are more because of our contract decisions, with so many being high money and long term, than because of Goodwin's coaching. It has definitely hampered our ability to bring more quality to the club.

Our biggest problem in my opinion is fierce, strong mental toughness.

Viney brings it every week, he was never a great kick, but watch him when we need him, showing the way and smashing the oppo like he always has done. 2 more years us no problem for me.

You make some good points though.

But when when Trac and Clarry were the in the top 5 players in the comp for a while, who wouldn’t give them big contracts?

18 hours ago, DubDee said:

I’m glad you’re not our list manager

Gawn is a future MFC legend. Viney and May are bloody warriors.

Do you know an unknown symptom of not giving good sized contracts?

they get poached

And MFC gets picks. Cool 😎

18 minutes ago, redandbluemakepurple said:

And MFC gets picks. Cool 😎

Way unders via free agency

20 hours ago, Pates said:

Honestly to me us extending Viney, May, and even Gawn for as long as we have is worse than giving Laurie an extra year. Unlikely he's on big coin from an AFL perspective.

Gawn has barely slowed down and is a legend, no issues with his deal. May still a very good player, been better this year than last, just the up ground defending has been awful at times. If we want to trade him we still can, I’d rather operate from the position of leverage with the deal.

Viney deal was moronic at the time. It was a lame attempt at PR that achieved nothing. I’d be all for Jack getting 2 more years at a fair price (1 he deserves and 1 for legacy), instead he’s signed up for 3 more and I’m willing to bet its overs money.

Celebrating Bailey Laurie having a really respectable and team-oriented game, I thought it is a good time for a fun fact!

Bailey Laurie has now played 15 games at AFL level.

Three of those games are Anzac Eve games against Richmond!

He has kicked three goals at AFL level, all against Richmond and on April 24th.

His three games this season have yielded time on ground equal to 192% of one game.

In twelve previous games he was either subbed on or off nine times, as a result his six games in 2024 yielded a total of 238%, and in 2023 he had a total of 198% game time across five games.

in 2025 he played one game, 20% time, and perhaps uniquely his supercoach score for that game was exactly 1, meaning his average for the year was also 1.

19 possessions tonight wasn't too bad, maybe he can get a run at it and improve week by week

He's finally getting some opportunity at the level without being a sub.

Building confidence each week, just like Tholstrup.

Back the young man in!

Edited Friday at 14:542 days by wheaters31

He's getting to the right spots, pressuring and linking well with team mates.

Some disposal leaves a lot to be desired, just pokes at the ball often falling short.

Overall though it's been his most competitive stretch of footy so far.

He had a good game with several goal assists and hopefully with more confidence, can continue to improve at the top level.

Benefitting from King allowing the players to pick and play a role based on their strengths

Who would think that a players confidence may grow when not being the sub and the first dropped each week. Was only ok last week and in a Goodwin era would have been dropped but the coach backed him in and his confidence grew as the match progressed. Has good tools for the style we are playing and should continue to be persevered with as a high half forward.

Always had a soft spot for Laurie and have voiced previously how incredibly unfair he was treated by Goodwin.

In terms of some of his mistakes. No different to the same mistakes Alex Neal Bullen use to make when he was starting out.

Laurie got better as the game went on and I expect him to play next week.

Interesting to see if he remains in and slowly adjusts to the speed of this level or if his disposal remains rushed. Came to the club with an Under 18s reputation as a very good ball user and could become useful in a Spargo-esque delivery role.

Named in the bests in the Herald Sun

Some players careers were ruined before they even really began by the sub rule.

Wrapped that Laurie is finally getting a go and, even is he doesn’t progress much further than here, he can at least feel that he had the opportunity to give it a go.

Thank goodness the sub rule is gone.

It actually allows players like Sharp and Laurie to get some continuity into their game.

played his role

some of his disposal is still horrific - it's the chip passes to players which miss the target by some margin which drive me up the wall

can't see him being dropped

Look at quarter time I said can we delist a player at 1/4 time.

At one stage early last night he tripped over with no one around him, but I must admit in the last half he stuck some tackles & seemed to use the ball well.

Maybe jones could do some work with him like he is doing with Langford.

I really hated him taking the advantage in the second quarter, even though he ended up kicking the goal. He needs to have more composure than that.

Still, there’s enough to work with, and he deserves a few games to show what he’s got once and for all.

I was ready to delist him at quarter time but he improved later in the game and ended up a useful contributor. It’s the old story about needing time and continuity to develop.

Like two of the recent posters, I was exasperated at quarter time and wanted him never to play again, but he improved to play probably his best game. Still underwhelming in my eyes, but let’s wait and see

He will be 10-20% better again next week simply by being picked again, being told he’s good enough, learning himself to adjust to the speed. He can’t learn the speed difference at Casey.

Unlikely to become a star 200 gamer….but I’m Sure he can play 70-80 games and play a role. Good on him.

Needs to clean up his disposals big time to stay in the team. Hopefully he stays in and gets his chance to prove he can do it or not. One way or another we will hopefully find out cause his consistent turnovers are horrific.

24 minutes ago, DemonOX said:

Needs to clean up his disposals big time to stay in the te-am. Hopefully he stays in and gets his chance to prove he can do it or not. One way or another we will hopefully find out cause his consistent turnovers are horrific.

No doubt there are things he needs to improve on, especially disposal efficiency, but he's not alone here.

Langford last night 7 kicks at 28.5% efficiency (3 turnovers)
Bailey was 9 kicks at 55.6% efficiency (2 Turnovers)
coincidentally Kozzy 27 kicks at 55.6% efficiency (8 turnovers)

Another that's had a soft spott for Bill and his lack of opportunities under Goodwin. Hope he can continue to build in confidence and game time to be a link-up half forward. I suspect his kicking efficiency will improve the more he plays.